Sci-Fi Classic Review: THEY LIVE (1988)

[@volvo480]

Roddy Piper's line "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, but I'm all out of bubblegum" is classic. This line even made it to a computer game: Duke Nukem 3D (1996)

[@rsacchi100]

Yes, if anyone isn't sure if they've seen "They Live" just use the bubblegum line.

[@holgerschulz4104]

After all these years, 6:23 is still one of my most beloved movie lines. Followed by Rutger Hauer´s "I´ve seen things...".

[@Elementalism]

The 80s and 90s really had some gems when it came to exploring political and societal topics. They Live, The Running Man, Total Recall, Terminator 2, Demolition Man, Minority Report, Starship Troopers, 1984. Unsurprisingly a lot these movies were based on stories\books from the 1950s\60s which had just fought a war against totalitarian ideologies and were stuck in a cold war against another. But the stories usually revolved around the enemy within, not foreign. These people saw what the fear mongering after WWII allowed certain groups power at the expense of others in the West.

[@morgangallowglass8668]

I am honestly shocked this movie was not banned. Prophetic on so many levels. Amazing vid as always, good sir!

[@thrashpondopons8348]

Had an American History Professor in College who took the greatest satisfaction in pointing out the Steinbeckesque template of this Film! & YES... masquerading Political Satire in a veil of Science Fiction is RIGHT outta the Serling playbook!

[@jasonblalock4429]

Hah, I'd never heard that story about Carpenter quoting studio execs in the movie. Ouch.

[@henoch44]

Movie's message is more appropriate today than ever before.

[@TerryNationB7]

Though a little slow paced, especially at the beginning, I really enjoy They Live. An underappreciated movie that came out in the same year is Miracle Mile.

[@lukecockburn1140]

One of my top 5 favourite movies ever

[@1kylecurry]

A classic... perfect social, political satire wrap in the sci fi/ horror genre! One of my favorites & no question a definite cult gem. John Carpenter nailed it! Highly recommend the short story, "8 o'clock in the morning". "They Live' should be part of JC's apocalyptic "Tetralogy" along with "The Thing", "Prince Of Darkness" & "In The Mouth Of Madness...".! Oh & of course the greatest fight scene ever!!!

[@wingitprod]

Thoroughly entertaining and informative review. 8 week shooting and $3mill budget exemplifies They Live is one of the greats of low-budget, gritty cinema. It left me feeling unsatisfied after the first viewing but has since become a great one to run in the background. @4:10 love the sellout quip.

[@larrydavis3645]

I have not seen this film. I have seen other reviews. I might rent it on Amazon. Thank you for your review. I enjoy the way you review these films.

[@internziko]

I'm so happy KZbin recomeneded your channel. Keep up the great work!

[@shanep5819]

Another great video and Merry Christmas, UG!

[@Halflife2-y2m]

I really enjoyed this movie when it came out.

[@graemewilson7975]

Thanks to joys of insomnia... This is one of carpenters greatest indie movies. Analogy written as science fantasy. Rowdy piper was a good leading man, a lot of confidence and brawn (when I first saw it I was unaware of his wrestling background). David Keith reappears in his second Alien carpenter movie. Succinctly told with JCs usual exacting camera movements & music. Pipers famous or now infamous "come here to chew gum" and a cast rounded out by carpenters semi regular cast reappearing. There has been much made recently of Nada's shooting spree, with many claiming this promotes gun violence (cronenbergs the dead zone was accused of same thing) not been american this whole gun thing was a largely American issue. In the thirty years since gun crime has crept largely into the UK economy and society (I'm not going to go any further on this, as it still remains largely American amendment right). As to its disturbing slant of antisemitism that they live has been labelled with this is truly repugnant suggestion of carpenters work

[@graemewilson7975]

I was worried my comments about firearms was to direct. Meant purely as observation rather than criticism

[@ericvulgate]

I first saw this at Medusa's in Chicago when they had a movie room upstairs 😁

[@AbrasiousProductions]

7:10 I knew that was him! I recognized his hair!

[@northprime_unlimited]

This movie changed my life…

[@cosmic4037]

Based on a true story

[@antoniocunha3912]

Dr Clare Daves and his alumni Chris Cowan and Don Beck developed his diachronic psychology model, The Spiral Dynamics, where in the contemporary world (as in the very mind of the modern man) co-exist diverse Stages of Consciousness, from the more primitive to the more advanced creating different (and confliting) ways of thinking and living. Histories as these of alien invaders can symbolise this situation of "civil war of consciousnesses". I could suggest the reading of the book Spiral Dynamics by Cowan&Beck.

[@moritzstrohriegel8724]

great video, like always.

[@moviesignsol]

4:05 wow

[@chuckpoore]

I have to admit, I've never gotten around to watching this film, for no particular reason, just never got around to it. So I knew nothing about it, or it's background. To be honest, having heard nothing about it, I had always thought it was a horror film, not SF. So I appreciate the review. I guess I need to watch this one! As far as the political angle, I had seen interviews before where Carpenter talked about how much he hated the Reagan era, so that's not much of a surprise. But what hits me about this premise, though, is that it applies no matter who it is that's "in charge", and no matter what it is they are demanding you conform to. So yeah, Carpenter probably was commenting on 80's consumerism. But it sounds like it would equally apply to a government/media demanding that you accept a particular "narrative" about certain things, under threat of being cancelled or losing your job or business if you don't. We're seeing a lot of that now, where those "in power" are perhaps inverted from what they were in the 80s. But the threat is the same...losing your own individual autonomy to an oppressive authoritarian regime of government/media/academia.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

My thoughts exactly. The way the story is framed, it could fit any society, but it just happened to take place in Reagan-era America. If it took place anywhere else at any other time, it could just as easily be criticizing a different culture. That’s why I say the movie is more universal, that it’s best thought of not as a partisan political hit job but more of a screed against authoritarianism in any form it happens to take.

[@brentoutashape9141]

OK, Geek, that was a good review, even the political bits. If it neither picks my pockets nor breaks my legs, what difference does it make? Although, having said that, I do believe I am "my brother's keeper," so I will defend your rights as well. Tyranny used to be anathema to Americans, now it seems we eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a smile. I also applaud they way Carpenter says, "Sure, I'll make you a movie. As long as I'm the only one making it." And you know what else? Put Piper in "Total Recall" and tell me it wouldn't be better. Is he a jack-hammer operating schlub, or is he a super spy? Dunno.

[@Lucky_Chase]

Finally!! A KZbinr is doing the right thing. Thank you!!

[@theSemiChrist]

I love that line, "It figure it would be something like this..."

[@IngieKerr]

Probably because I'm a fan of, and arguably an amateur creator of, similar music that arguably outstays its welcome, I'm personally a huge fan of the way the music is just always _there_ like some sinister monster's leitmotif always lurking behind everything. I only recently saw the film for the first time, and one of the things I recall doing straight afterwards was asking a friend to call round to listen to how wonderful the soundtrack was. I think perhaps when I watch it at present, I'm still so enamoured of how the music _sounds_ [i.e. its arrangement engineering and production of the way the bass notes kick] - and I'm constantly over analysing the way it works at an audio level, that I never get chance to get bored of it yet :) But I know what you're saying :)

[@harrihaffi2713]

Very cool and useful review. Working on a list for top 10 best movies of the 80’s. They live will probably be one of them. Got any suggestions for other movies to include?

[@moritzstrohriegel8724]

what is your favorite john carpenter movie? 🧐

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

That’s a Sophie’s choice. Either The Thing or Halloween.

[@stuartj1234]

They live is one of the best documentarys ive ever seen. Also Idiocracy is highly accurate a great watch.

[@alantasman8273]

So true...but Idiocracy is now...not 500 years in the future.

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

As the martial arts guy who’s a giant wrestling nerd, this was maybe the movie i should have jumped on with you.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I know! It occurred to me AFTER I’d finished the video that I should have gotten with you on it. I’ve been kicking myself ever since.

[@iancroft1447]

Good Good Good Geekster !

[@rsacchi100]

They Live is typically '80s. Thanks for the memories.

[@paulstan9828]

I liked this movie. Sort of cheaply made but such a cool idea.

[@dannystaton5386]

😮😮😮😮

[@aretnap3653]

*PUT ON TheGLASSES!*

[@JGSuttonJr]

I never trust rich people telling me how bad rich people are.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

That is a wise principle.

[@andygold007]

I am 46 and a big movie fan but I never got to see this until a few years ago. Not sure why I never bought it but when I finally saw it I was disappointed on the whole. I was expecting something as good as Evil Dead 3 but it’s not in the same league.

[@hallo17184]

Without your shameless selfpromotion I wouldnt have clicked the Like Button every time while binge wathing all of your videos😛

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

Then it’s doing its job! 😎

[@Zeluth]

If I wanted to believe I would listen to Art Bell.

[@ArmandoVillalba]

green day Back In The USA?

[@Grimtheorist]

I personally love the anti-capitalist, anti-elitist, anti-corporate messaging in this movie.

[@tommydarbe1524]

I'm here to kick ass and talk politics and I'm not talking politics. Whahahaha!

[@JohnWilliamNowak]

I haven't seen the film, but I've always felt a bit uncomfortable when a film comes too close to sounding like a 400 page manifesto written in crayon found on the body of a guy sniped by law enforcement. I'm certain John Carpenter didn't intend the film to be interpreted as anti-semitic, but by making it mirror real-life anti-semitic worldviews he absolutely just walked into that. It is incomprehensible to me that someone could make a film about these non-humans who control everything behind the scenes without thinking, "Hold on, did I just write a plot Goebbels would be happy with?"

[@thomasroth4695]

This movie 1984 and Demolition man all are in there own ways comming true

[@Denis-fp7ku]

Happy Hanukkah from outer space.

[@indyspotes3310]

This movie reminds me of how a parent still loves their kid even after they've done something horribly wrong. Unfortunately, it follows the Stephen King model of storytelling: Introduce an interesting concept; provide a great set-up; and bring it all crashing down with characters acting illogically against their best interests in some ridiculous fashion. That fight scene doesn't build drama, add much more action to the story, or reflect the previous development of those characters in regards to each other at all. But what it does do is grind the feel and sensibility of the film to a halt. But I guess you don't cast Roddy Piper to NOT have him wrassle somebody... Despite how much that scene really grinds my gears, and the anti-commercialism soft target, for some reason I can't help but still like this movie. Damn you, charismatic Roddy Piper! On a side note, every time I saw Al Leong in a movie, I used to exclaim "Al Leong!" for no reason whatsoever. I like to think that I added an extra level of intrigue at the theater...

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I shall now shout “Al Leong!” at the screen whenever I see him. Thank you! 😎

[@indyspotes3310]

@@TheUnapologeticGeek You're in luck. Since it's Christmas season, Die Hard is on regular rotation (a debate so complex and pointless even the internet seems incapable of containing it), so you should have plenty of opportunity to take that baby out for a spin and see how she rides. Welcome to the world of interactive movie tomfoolery.

[@alantasman8273]

That fight scene cans be seen as a metaphor for how our puppet-masters have us fighting amongst each other as a diversion from what they are doing behind the scenes. Divide and conquer has always been a strategy employed by the enemy of the people.

[@lazyfanatic]

This movie is my childhood, ha, as inappropriate as that is.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

My childhood is full of SO MANY inappropriate movies! 😂